31.   Are the increasing odds of a ground-troops buildup in Afghanistan bringing more comfort for the coming cold winter?

32.   Another cold winter would further dwindle natural gas reserves, the low levels of which are the chief culprit in soaring prices.

33.   As Canadians battled an unusually cold winter, they imported more energy and held back U.S.-bound exports of crude oil and coal.

34.   As America grew into a country, settlers butchered hogs in the fall so the meat could be safely cured over the cold winter months.

35.   As for natural gas prices, a cold winter can still have an effect.

36.   Afghanistan now presents the most urgent case for food relief, having faced years of conflict and drought, plus a bitterly cold winter.

37.   Bundesbank President Hans Tietmeyer said the German economy is on the road to recovery after a long and cold winter triggered a contraction in the first quarter.

38.   But some people pin their hopes on weather lore, which holds that if nutshells and onion skins are thicker than usual, a cold winter is coming.

39.   But with careful consideration, trees can be placed to provide summer shade that lowers cooling or to block the cold winter wind.

40.   CHICAGO - The cold winter wind that this city is known for might have an extra bite to it today.